I hope so. Regardless of the reasons why he might be holding out, he makes us better being on our roster, and the kids make him better too. Not to mention the obvious: Not playing means not getting paid any of that $1.9m he was offered.

It’s not about the money, I personally think he’ll sign just before December 1st that way he’ll have less time to deal with this system, less than 4 months. Also the team will be set and at that point it’ll show if he makes the team better or not.

I mean, it’s pretty lazy to look at his point total or ppg total and say he hasn’t earned more than this. Look at his points/60 minutes of ice time. He’s been among the league leaders for both seasons he has played here. AND he gets zero power play time and really no time on a top line with decent linemates.

He can sign the 2-year deal knowing he’ll have to play for an ass clown.

Or wait this out a little while longer and perhaps the other ass clown will trade him. Galchenyuk is falling out of favour in Montreal. Maybe AA and Galchenyuk can be the centerpiece of a deal?

Boston has often been rumoured to be listening to offers on Spooner. Need more parts to make the cap work. Something like AA + Sheahan for Spooner and a pick.

At this point if I was AA I’d give it a couple more weeks. If the Wings are sitting at 3-5-2 and last in the conference, Kenny might either bit the bullet on a higher contract amount, or do what AA is really after…getting to escape the organization via trade.

That doesn’t seem to count, they say his stats will fall like other players, not enough time etc., but when it comes to someone trying to get him in a trade all those stats count. KH said he isn’t going to give him away. Ironic.

I mean, it’s pretty lazy to look at his point total or ppg total and say he hasn’t earned more than this. Look at his points/60 minutes of ice time. He’s been among the league leaders for both seasons he has played here.

101 Games. That 1 1/4 seasons, roughly. Sustain it and cash in. Period. I didn’t ask for a huge raise after 1 year on the job. Did you?

Look, I dislike the way KH has signed useless veterans to long term deals and insists on playing them. AA needs to understand that these are the facts

1. AA is a restricted free agent with no arbitration rights. He’s got no recourse if he ever wants to play in the NHL again. DRW own his rights forever.
2. These are rules agreed to by his peers in collective bargaining.
3. He’s going to fetch nothing close to adequate trade value.

Again, I don’t think this is really about money on this particular contract. It’s about trying to force Kenny’s hand to escape this organization. If the losses pile up and the team can’t score, maybe Kenny feels mounting pressure and makes a hockey trade.

Posted by damndog from The Eastside of Detroit on 10/11/17 at 02:21 PM ET

There is maybe not a better player to hear that advice from, actually.

From everything I’ve read and heard for years now, O’Sullivan had AA’s attitude and ego, and O’Sullivan was always determined he was worth far more than he’d yet proven. His ego went back to his junior days with the USNTDP when he decided it was vindication that he was a superstar. And it ultimately cost O’Sullivan his NHL career: he never stuck with an NHL roster, and after more chances than he even deserved, he was then out for good.

If anyone could look AA in the eye and tell him he’s being an idiot and jeopardizing his future with his ego, it’s O’Sullivan. He’s been there. He did it. His pro career (not NHL career, his PRO career) was over before age 30.

Or maybe AA can call up Wojtek Wolski. At the draft in Raleigh, Wolski and his dad were telling everyone they could that Wojtek was the next big NHL superstar, and that he needed to be treated as such right then and now by everyone. I know this because a friend was working in the service industry in Raleigh at the time, she knew NOTHING about hockey, and the next day she came at me (knowing I knew hockey well) with his specific name and absolutely ripping the kid and his dad to shreds as absolute a**holes, and how she hoped he flamed out/busted. And where’d that get Wolski, that ego?.. He’s a KHLer, with his NHL career basically over because again he quickly wore out his welcome anywhere he played, and felt the AHL was beneath him.

Truthfully, this is what I see happening to AA. He’s got some wheels and ability, but he’s not what he thinks he is[/b[. And he’s not that special that the NHL won’t quickly toss him aside, in this salary cap era.

He’s replaceable, and if he doesn’t know or realize that, or have anyone in his life to tell him that, then screw him, he can go join Wolski in the KHL and be a Never Was.

Quesiton. How many teams do not play their 2nd leading goal scorer on the PP at all.
Posted by jb61973 on 10/11/17 at 03:51 PM ET

so far everyone playing on the Wings who have scored a goal is on one of the PP units. Still, I know what you really mean. If only AA had started the pre-season with the team I bet he would be playing PP and on a line with Larkiin and Mantha.

He’s replaceable….
Posted by Primis on 10/11/17 at 04:36 PM ET
Frk sure is proving that after three games. Good for him for taking advantage of AA’s absence.

Posted by Primis on 10/11/17 at 04:36 PM ET
Primis, I don’t think his ego is the reason, possibly a small part, it’s more of how is this team going to make me better when they appear (management seems) to be lost themselves. I’ve shown my offensive potential yet get no more ice time, claim my defense or 200 ft game.isn’ t there but there is no one to show me, no one has a stellar 200 foot game. Take this year, wings aren’t even averaging 3 g/ game , defense has allowed 7 goals in 3 games and if it wasn’t for Howard it could easily have been more. There’s a period of time to develop chemistry with other players and learn the 200 ft game that they require, but not when you’re ice time is limited it’s difficult.

Posted by VPalmer on 10/11/17 at 04:54 PM ET
Palmer , you don’t even agree with that, PP is spent in offensive zone or should be, last season without AA, how’d that work out, worst PP in years, why because the minute we’re challenged along the boards we vacate the points and retreat to play defense (screen our own goalie). How many Pp”‘s didn’t even produce a shot on goal.

it’s more of how is this team going to make me better when they appear (management seems) to be lost themselves.

sorry State, I just don’t buy that. I really want to, but, AA needs to be playing against the best players in the world to get any better. That shouldn’t be hard for him to understand but for some reason, he’s decided that isn’t the right option for him.

It’s also not his job to manage the team or be worried about management. His job is to play hockey and do the best he can on the ice (where he isn’t right now). Worrying about management as a reason for holding out is not going to get him off the team (if that’s what he wants) any faster.

There’s a period of time to develop chemistry with other players and learn the 200 ft game that they require, but not when you’re ice time is limited it’s difficult.

Choosing zero minutes of ice time is a lot worse then playing 13 minutes. There is no denying that.

Posted by howeandhowe from Seattle on 10/11/17 at 05:15 PM ET. Completely agree with your statements about needing to be in the NHL in order to play against the best players in the world. The perplexing part is AA is better offensively, why keep him off PP and other offensive situations. Constant line changes, etc. you’ll have to agree that last season and the season before have virtually nothing to do with AA’s 200 foot game especially since he had one of the lowest amounts of ice time. Being the devil’s advocate I’ll let things run their course til close to December and at that point it’ll be obvious as to whether I make the team better or not. Problem is staying in condition, risky.

but, AA needs to be playing against the best players in the world to get any better. That shouldn’t be hard for him to understand but for some reason, he’s decided that isn’t the right option for him.

Posted by howeandhowe from Seattle on 10/11/17 at 05:15 PM ET

Hmm, this is strange. Our organization has had other 23-year olds and told the fanbase that the best path of development for them is to play big minutes in the AHL. This is how they will get better. But now suddenly AA can only develop if he is playing against the best.

Also worth noting that there have been numerous cases of young players going to a European league, and then returning to the NHL showing vast improvement. Mark Giordano comes to mind. Brian Rafalski honed his craft in Europe. Alexander Radulov left the NHL for 4 years and his game didn’t deteriorate. In fact, his offense was similar but now he had added a better defensive game. The Panthers have said that Dadonov looks fantastic after 5 years away.

Posted by fatsavage on 10/11/17 at 06:37 PM ET
You’re correct, can’t argue with that either. I think it’s probably more more playing time because players in all sports say the game slows down for them the more they play.

Even you can’t believe that. If Zetterberg isn’t a stellar 200 foot game player then no one in the NHL is.

Posted by
calquake
from a.k.a. Uniquake, workin' on my manifesto on 10/11/17 at 07:11 PM ET

Posted by calquake from a.k.a. Uniquake, workin’ on my manifesto on 10/11/17 at 07:11 PM ET
Darn good, yeah, stellar, absolutely not. On PP’s he plays deep in offensive zone, and isn’t expected to be back on breakouts. AA has carried the puck in on more rushes than all Detroit players and is expected to be back. Z is phenomenal at challenging and keeping control of the puck but is too slow to skate back once players get by him. AA has skated down players on breakaways. AA doesn’t play on AA’s line to get full effect of Z’s abilities. Watching a star like Z, while important, isn’t the same as being on the ice with them.

The perplexing part is AA is better offensively, why keep him off PP and other offensive situations.

I kind of doubt that’s what would have happened if he had made it to training camp. I still believe that the front of the house was going to put him with Larkin and Mantha and give him a long look on the PP.

Posted by fatsavage on 10/11/17 at 06:37 PM ET

still taking all this so personally. sad…....I concede everything to you because your ego needs it.

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